A tattered umbrella in the rain
Govt has promulgated an ordinance intending to award the death penalty to child rapists when the debate on capital punishment is yet to reach a logical end. The country is witnessing an environment where even the opponents of capital punishment will find it difficult to object. After the brutal rape and murder of an eight year old girl in Kathua, multitude of such cases the are being reported across the country. Newspapers are knocking at the door, their articles filled with rape and murder.
In the Nirbhaya case an adult woman was raped, but now, people are cursed to read the reports of rape of an eight month old female infant. The govt doesn’t seem to have the wherewithal to prevent this. After the Kathua horror, such kind of articles are all you see on the front pages of the papers. Internationally too, it is damaging India’s reputation. International leaders including UN chief, António Guterres are condemning the Govt. of India.
In such trying times, the one way the Govt has found to fend off international criticism is to propagate the said ordinance. This ordinance has evoked mixed responses across the country; particularly the clause that suggests capital punishment for raping the girls under 12.
Is it the assumption of the Govt that raping girls above 12 is okay? What is the difference between brutes who rapes an 11 year old and 13 year old?
The law states that it is a criminal offence to marry a girl below 18 years. Even sex with consent with minors is in the ambit of rape. In such a context is it not a heinous crime if a brute rapes and murders a girl above 12?
Though the extent of punishment for the rape against girls above 12 has been increased, it fails to provide effective punishment to the violence perpetrated.
In a country like India the rape is essentially an attack on the very dignity of a woman. The perpetrator need not be lust filled character. Rape has been used as a tool to destroy the character , personality and deny a woman’s right to live in this country. This is not merely a physical attack, but a psychological attack too. Yes, even if a man’s limbs and hands are severed, he can yet live a dignified life in Indian society.
But if a raped woman tries to lead an honorable life, there are further attacks on her. Our legal system perceives rape as mere physical violence, the culprits manage to escape from the clutches of law easily. But the woman continues to be punished in various manner throughout her life. Whether the accused is punished or not, the society ensures that the victim is punished with a “Life sentence”.
In such a scenario, A rape is part of manslaughter to destroy the right to live and a ruthless design to destroy her individuality and personality. In other words, rape is a much gruesome crime than murder that impacts women. The country has seen how the upper strata had used rape to oppress dalits. Khairlanji is a classic example of such an act. This was not only a crime against a family, but also was a warning, for the rest of the dalit community.
During the Gujarat communal violence, rape was not only inflicted by lustful men. Even in Kathua, the perpetrators of the crime against a hapless child of eight were not only driven by lust, they were also communal fanatics. Their cruel violence was not only against a female, but against a community. Let us not be fooled to believe that after this ordinance, hordes of criminals accused of rape will be hanged in a row.. If we look at the conviction rate of the existing law, we will be deeply disappointed.
It is obvious that law and order has failed miserably in handling sensitive cases like rape. Recently The Govt has tried to dilute an existing Law under the pretext that it is being misused. While the atrocities against Dalits are increasing day by day, the Govt has not deemed it fit to see if the law is being implemented effectively. Instead it is showing unusual haste in diluting the act. With such a context how are we to feel assured that the Govt will push for a serious act for rape too?
Even the judiciary has worried more about misuse of women's safety laws,rather than worrying about its effective implementation.
There is an anti Dowry act, yet has it succeeded in stopping Dowry?
In crimes against children, the case should be registered instantly and the evidence should be collected posthaste. But the country witnessed just how this was thwarted in Kathua. Initially the case was hushed up;The Police had declared that no rape was committed. Only after a special investigation. the horrendous crime was brought to light.
The lawyers had taken to streets and urged that a charge sheet should not be presented against the accused.
In such a society, Is it easy to prove the rape against the children?
When a Govt is indirectly involved in hushing up the crime, and the Prime Minister of a country maintains a studied silence on that, how do we believe that the present Ordinance will be a deterrent to rape in a way?
It is as if the Govt providing a tattered umbrella when it is raining cats and dogs.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
